Rivina humilis

Linnaeus

Sp. Pl. 1: 121. 1753.

Common names: Pigeonberry rougeplant coralito
Illustrated
Synonyms: Rivina laevis Linnaeus Rivina portulaccoides Nuttall
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 4. Treatment on page 10.

Plants erect, straggling, or vinelike, 0.4–2 m, ± glabrous or densely pubescent. Leaves: petiole 1–11 cm; blade lanceolate, elliptic, or oblong to deltate or ovate, to 15 × 9 cm, base cuneate or rounded to truncate or cordate, apex acuminate or acute to obtuse or emarginate. Racemes 4–15 cm; peduncle 1–5 cm; pedicel 2–8 mm. Flowers: sepals white or green to pink or purplish, elliptic or oblong to oblanceolate or obovate, 1.5–3.5 mm; style often curved. Berries 2.5–5 mm diam. Seeds lenticular, 2–3 mm, enclosed in thin, densely pubescent membranes. 2n = 108.


Phenology: Flowering year-round.
Habitat: Woods, hammocks, thickets, shell ridges, roadsides, disturbed areas
Elevation: 0-1700 m

Distribution

Ariz., Ark., Fla., La., N.Mex., Okla., Tex., Mexico, West Indies, Central America, South America, Asia, Africa, Pacific Islands

Discussion

During enlargement and maturation of the fruit of Rivina humilis, the two inner cell layers of the pericarp become separated from the outer layers. The cells of the outermost two layers elongate centrifugally, eventually forming tubular trichomes 133–229 µm long. These two layers become appressed and adherent to the seed coat; thus the seed appears to be, and is sometimes described as, pubescent (J. W. Thieret 1966b). The outer layers of the pericarp differentiate into the juicy portion of the fruit (L. B. Kajale 1954; D. D. Nautiyal and S. C. Gupta 1984).

Rivina humilis is cultivated as a greenhouse plant or, in warm areas, as a garden ornamental. With its colorful berries, it is more attractive in fruit than in flower.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Rivina humilis"
acute;obtuse or emarginate +
Mark A. Nienaber +  and John W. Thieret +
Linnaeus +
rounded;truncate or cordate +
0.25 cm2.5 mm <br />0.0025 m <br /> (0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br />) +
0 cm0 mm <br />0 m <br /> (15 cm150 mm <br />0.15 m <br />) +
oblong;deltate or ovate +
0 cm0 mm <br />0 m <br /> (9 cm90 mm <br />0.09 m <br />) +
distinct +  and connate +
Pigeonberry +, rougeplant +  and coralito +
Ariz. +, Ark. +, Fla. +, La. +, N.Mex. +, Okla. +, Tex. +, Mexico +, West Indies +, Central America +, South America +, Asia +, Africa +  and Pacific Islands +
0-1700 m +
hypogynous +
red;orange or yellow +
1-12[-18]-carpellate +
Woods, hammocks, thickets, shell ridges, roadsides, disturbed areas +
terminal +  and axillary +
undulate +
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (?) +  and 0.8 cm8 mm <br />0.008 m <br /> (?) +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (5 cm50 mm <br />0.05 m <br />) +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (11 cm110 mm <br />0.11 m <br />) +
Flowering year-round. +
4 cm40 mm <br />0.04 m <br /> (15 cm150 mm <br />0.15 m <br />) +
lenticular +
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br />) +
green;pink or purplish +
persistent +
oblong;oblanceolate or obovate +
unequal +
0.15 cm1.5 mm <br />0.0015 m <br /> (0.35 cm3.5 mm <br />0.0035 m <br />) +
Illustrated +
distinct +
Rivina laevis +  and Rivina portulaccoides +
Rivina humilis +
species +
plant +, vinelike +  and straggling +
pubescent +  and glabrous +